COVID-19 hospitalizations in Sask. climb over 300 for the first time since Oct. 2021

COVID-19 related hospitalizations in Saskatchewan have reached a level not seen since the peak of the fourth wave in the province.  

On Wednesday, the province reported 24 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, bringing the total number to 315, with 33 of those being in the ICU. 

Earlier this morning, during a Provincial Emergency Operations Centre update, media were told that a total of 74 ICU beds were being used in the province. 

Saskatchewan hasn't recorded more than 300 COVID-19-related hospitalizations since Oct. 22, 2021. 

Hospitalizations have grown rapidly in Saskatchewan since the Omicron variant was first detected in the province. 

A week ago on Jan. 19, the province reported only 199 hospitalizations, with 21 of those being in the ICU. 

That means in just seven days the province's hospitalizations have climbed by 58 per cent. 

So far, there's no indication that hospitalisations are slowing down.

The rapid increase in hospitalizations highlights another difference between the Delta-driven fourth wave and the ongoing Omicron-driven fifth wave in Saskatchewan.

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The province is on track to surpass the record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations it reported during the fourth wave, but ICU admissions have remained relatively low in comparison. 

That was on Oct. 6, when Sask. reported 356 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 76 of which were in the ICU. 

As of Tuesday, the province says 109 of the 315 patients in the province's hospitals were not fully vaccinated. 

The provincial government says of the  282 inpatient hospitalizations, 121 are a result of a COVID-19-related illness, while 127 are incident COVID-19 infections. The source of the remaining 34 inpatients hospitalizations have yet to be determined.